On Tuesday, July 16 Associate Principal Johanna Phelps with Rockefeller University's George Candler led a tour for Metro Hort of MNLA's design of the 1.4 acre Stavros Niarchos Foundation David Rockefeller River Campus landscape.

Completed in 2018, the landscape frames both expansive and intimate views, with native plantings offering a lush landscape of texture and movement. The open space now engages Rockefeller's riverfront location and affords scientists respite and a place for dialogue.

On Friday June 14th, NJ ASLA, MNLA, and MBC hosted a unique walking tour of two prominent Jersey City Waterfront Public spaces: Newport Green and Pier, and Exchange Place Memorial Plaza. Insights into the respective spaces were shared, including their connection to the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway and their significance to the surrounding communities. This event offered 2 CEUs for LLA's.

Associate Principal Dan Yannaccone will visit his alma mater Rutgers University for a landscape architecture student portfolio review on Saturday, April 27th from 12-3pm. Held in Blake Hall at the New Brunswick campus, the review is scheduled in conjunction with Rutgers Day and organized by the Rutgers Landscape Architecture Grad Club.

MNLA has been awarded a $25,000 research grant from the Landscape Architecture Foundation for the proposal Ethically Sourcing: Specifying Forced-Labor Free Materials in Landscape Architecture.

How can the field of landscape architecture evaluate its exposure risk to materials produced through forced labor? Can more conscientious sourcing of construction materials address this important question of social equity? Over the next year, a team at MNLA led by Noriko Maeda, RLA, ASLA and an academic partner, Franca Trubiano, PhD will explore these questions and more, researching how landscape architects can use project specifications and procurement processes to address these critical issues and help to advance fair labor practices.

Please click through for more information.

MNLA’s New York City-based practice is seeking a Landscape Architect with 3-7 years of experience to join our team to design inspired landscapes and envision thoughtful place-making.

About MNLA:

MNLA creates transformative landscapes that connect communities and elevate ecological design. Our award-winning 32 person firm and has worked to reinvigorate, heal, and mediate places for over a quarter century. Current projects are located throughout the United States and include shorelines and piers, public open spaces and plazas, cultural institutions and historic sites, and campus planning and design. Please visit our website for more info www.mnlandscape.com

Required Skills:

We are seeking a highly motivated, enthusiastic, and committed candidate that demonstrates the following skills:

• Highly organized with strong written, graphic, and verbal communication skills
• Fluency in AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, and 3d modeling
• Experience managing projects of varying size
• Experience in all phases of design and construction
• Self-starter that can thrive in a team environment with the ability to coordinate and collaborate with other consultants and client teams
• Knowledge of plant material
• Familiarity with both remote and in-person work models  

Preferred Qualifications/ Skills:

• Landscape Architect with licensure preferred.
• A BLA or MLA from an accredited landscape architecture program
• Experience with both public and private clients
• Experience with community-based design process  

MNLA invests in its employees and offers a competitive salary based on experience, annual professional practice allowances for continuing education and licensure, health insurance and FSA, and a 401k/Profit Sharing Plan. Our team engages in active mentorship at all phases of design from concept to construction. 

This is a full-time position based in New York City for immediate hire. The office currently works in a flexible-hybrid model that allows staff to balance their individual schedule with a minimum of three days in our lower Manhattan office. 

All MNLA employees and interns must be fully vaccinated/boosted against COVID-19.

MNLA is an equal-opportunity employer.

Please send your resume and portfolio to info@mnlandscape.com. In the subject line please indicate the position you are applying for. Limit 10MB. Portfolio should clearly indicate applicant’s role on project and work authorization status. 

St. Paul’s Chapel opened in 1766 and has been continuously operating since. It survived the fire of 1776 and after September 11th St. Paul’s became known as the ‘Chapel that Stood’.

Please join cultureNOW, the Lower Manhattan Historical Association, the Federal Hall Conservancy, and Trinity Wall Street on Thursday, March 7 at 2:30pm on site for a symposium highlighting the cultural richness of St. Paul's followed by an informal look at historic documents and a tour of the building and churchyard led by Zach Poole of MBB Architects and Signe Nielsen of MNLA. Please click through for free registration info.

MNLA, a leading landscape architecture firm responsible for the design of Little Island and Waterline Square in New York City, ushers in an era of transformative change and proudly announces the elevation of Alexis Gagné, Dan Yannaccone, Johanna Phelps, and Martha Desbiens to the role of Associate Principals. This strategic move marks a pivotal moment in MNLA's journey and underscores its commitment to growth, innovation, and steadfast values.

For over three decades, MNLA has upheld its core values, defined by transformation, a comprehensive vision and inclusive process that guides its design methodology and approach, and advocacy, a fundamental tenet of engendering incremental positive change. This leadership progression is a testament to the firm's evolution, as it continues to shape resilient business strategies.

“At this crucial juncture in landscape architecture, shaped by environmental challenges and a commitment to systemic change, MNLA stands poised for growth," said Founding Principal Signe Nielsen. “As the firm steps into an exciting new chapter, we will continue to apply the same care and thoughtfulness as we have in the past to our clients, design, and staff. I have full confidence in our new associate principals and am thrilled to work closely with them through this progression.” 

The newly appointed Associate Principals bring a wealth of expertise and dedication to MNLA's legacy. As they continue their leadership roles, they will offer mentorship and act as reliable resources for the entire team while also taking on expanded responsibilities. Their multifaceted contributions are poised to significantly fuel the firm's success. 

The leadership progression includes a close collaboration between existing Principals and the new Associate Principals. To ensure continuity and guidance during this shift, Founding Principal Signe Nielsen, along with Principals Rob DeMarco and Molly Bourne, will draw from their successful experience having assumed Principal roles in 1994 and 2014, respectively. Notably, as the firm celebrates its 30th anniversary, Signe’s leadership mirrors a rich history spanning three decades of dedication to the firm’s development. 

"What employees can expect is a continued commitment to design, mentorship, training, and a collaborative approach to project success," said DeMarco. "We believe in the collective strength of our team, and this progression is an opportunity for advancement and growth for all."

“We are confident that Alexis, Dan, Johanna, and Martha will play pivotal roles in steering projects toward success while nurturing the development of our team members,” added Bourne.

The new leadership marks a strategic move for MNLA, reinforcing its unwavering dedication to advocating for transformative change, innovation, and a collective vision that shapes landscapes for the betterment of communities and the environment. It also demonstrates the firm's commitment to maintaining private, female-majority ownership and its recognition as a Women Business Enterprise (WBE) and to pursuing work aligned with its core values, exploring new markets, and making tangible contributions to society.

Signe Nielsen will be speaking as part of New York Botanical Garden’s 24th Annual Winter Lecture Series, “From Skyline to Shoreline: Imaginative Waterfronts of NYC.” This series celebrates three distinguished individuals who have meaningfully contributed to New York City’s green spaces over the past several decades, using innovative designs for urban waterfront parks that exhibit a remarkable convergence of art, nature, narrative and community. Signe will discuss her work on Little Island on March 28. For info and tickets please click through.